Arrest made in sexual assault

STOCKTON - San Joaquin County sheriff's deputies arrested a man who allegedly posed as a store manager and accused a girl of shoplifting before coercing her into sexual acts, authorities said.

Jason Anderson

STOCKTON - San Joaquin County sheriff's deputies arrested a man who allegedly posed as a store manager and accused a girl of shoplifting before coercing her into sexual acts, authorities said.

The sexual assault occurred about 5 p.m. Monday in the 6400 block of Pacific Avenue, deputies said. A 17-year-old girl was leaving a Rite Aid when she was confronted by a man as she exited the store. The man, who is not a store employee, accused the girl of shoplifting, escorted her behind anearby business and coerced her into lewd and lascivious acts, authorities said.

Deputies located someone matching the man's description Wednesday at Lincoln Center. Thomas Brink, 45, was questioned and subsequently arrested on suspicion of kidnapping for sexual crime, sexual battery, molesting a child, false imprisonment and attempted oral copulation, authorities said. He also was arrested on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property and petty theft with a prior violation in connection with a separate case, deputies said.